Via SFX:
“We were in Hobbiton three weeks ago. I turned 19 when I was in Hobbiton for the first time and I’m 30 now so it just shows you how much time has passed and I think the movies are going to be incredible.”
Of his cameo, he went on to explain, “Frodo is not alive during the time of The Hobbit so they’ve done a flash forward. I didn’t get chance to work with the dwarves – I was just hanging out with them. I got to do a little bit of work with Martin Freeman, who is awesome – I’m a really big fan. I think what he’s doing with Bilbo is great and everyone will love it.”
Off the bat, it’s hard to believe that it’s been so long since The Lord of the Rings first began filming. I’m three years younger than Wood, which would put me at 16 when he first suited up as Frodo Baggins. I was just learning to drive, deep into my discovery of Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time and still ignorant enough to enjoy Terry Goodkind and I was just about to meet the girl who would grow up into the woman who’s now my wife (we went and saw each of the three Lord of the Rings films together as friends.) It’s somewhat startling to think of how much my life has changed since the films first started production.
More on topic, however, are Wood’s comments about his role in the film. As any fan of Tolkien’s work will know, Frodo Baggins isn’t born yet when The Hobbit is taking place, from what Wood says, it sounds like his role will (thankfully) be constrained to more of a cameo, potentially book-ending the film as a pre-LOTR Bilbo Baggins reads to his nephew from There and Back Again. Did Frodo need to be shoehorned into the film? No. Will it be weird seeing Martin Freeman playing an older Bilbo instead of Ian Holm? Yep. Will it affect my enjoyment of the film at all? I doubt it.
What do you think about Frodo Baggins being included in The Hobbit?
I’m torn. I’m sure, ultimately, it won’t be a big deal either way… but at the moment, it seems a rather lame “Hollywood” thing to do. Ah, well, so long as Samwise doesn’t show up in a cameo to cry some more, I think all will be well…
You’re not the only one that got thrown for a loop with the age thing. My instinctual response was, “Liar!” Of course, he’s telling the truth, but it’s hard to believe so much has happened since then…
At this point, I’ve got a lot of faith in Peter Jackson, so I think it will be OK. I’ve heard they’re even going to include a little Viggo as Aragorn, and honestly, I think that will be perfect.
Yes, it’s amazing how long ago these films got running. Such a great set of films, it will be a long time before anything’s released that I look forward to with such anticipation.
From what I have read, we won’t see Elijah with Martin Freeman, Martin just stood in as a “marker” for Bilbo, while Ian Holm filmed hos scenes In London (like Christopher Lee). So we’ll see Elijah and Ian together, not an older Martin Freeman..
[…] Comment: Elijah Wood in The Hobbit, posted by A Dribble of Ink […]
I’m certain Martin Freeman will do an exceptional job as Bilbo Baggins as he sets off for Rivendale again, but this time headed for Lonely Mountain in his first ever journey.